That We May Have Life

 

John 10:1-10

I Am the Good Shepherd

10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. ² But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁷ So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Often called "Good Shepherd Sunday" because of this Gospel, this is also a special day for thousands who are devotees of the Divine Mercy prayer, many of whom will be gathering in Stockbridge, MA to celebrate Mass and pray the Divine Mercy chaplet. For those of us who cannot be there, we can make a special effort to pray the chaplet wherever we are, or spend time with this passage to absorb even more the great love Jesus, our Good Shepherd, has for us. He has given his life for us, calls us by name and offers us abundant, eternal life with him. Where else would we rather be than in his flock? 

Bro. Rene 

Good Shepherd, may I grow in trust of  your loving care and live as a faithful member of your flock. Accept my prayer of gratitude for your loving care, and shepherd me always with it. Amen. 

To Whom Shall We Go?

 

John 6:60-69

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

⁶⁰ On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

⁶¹ Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! ⁶³ The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. ⁶⁴ Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. ⁶⁵ He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

⁶⁶ From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

⁶⁷ “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

After hearing this explanation about this great gift, his Body and Blood, Spirit and Life, many rejected Jesus and turned away from him. What a disappointment that must have been. Thankfully, Peter spoke up realizing that there was no other place to go or to be than with  Jesus. May we renew our commitment to Jesus and strive to follow him more willingly and lovingly than ever before in our lives.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, when I find myself distracted or grumpy because things are not going MY way, may I stick with you, realizing with Peter that there is no other place to go, other than to be with you. Amen 

 

Real Food

 

 

 John 6:52-59

Nourishment for Eternal Life

⁵² Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

⁵³ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹ He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

The possibility of the existence of a "Fountain of Youth" has fascinated explorers for centuries.  We want to live forever, it seems, and will go to no ends to find the way to do so. However, Jesus makes a way available to grant us a life greater than just life on this planet:  life with him and the Father for all eternity. It's the life that comes though what we call "The Eucharist" or "Holy Communion,"  and it is available daily, or at least weekly. We have been offering these slices of Daily Bread for a few days now, so important is this gift.  May we arrange our lives to take advantage of of this gift and opportunity as often as we can.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, give me the motivation and energy to take advantage of receiving the Bread of Life as often as I can. Amen.

 

This Bread Is My Flesh

 John 6:44-51

I Am The Bread Of Life

⁴⁴ “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. ⁴⁶ No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. ⁵⁰ But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

We continue further into John 6, often referred to as "The Eucharistic Discourse" as Jesus explains what he means by "the Bread of Life". How does one grasp the notion that bread can become the Body and Blood, Flesh and Divinity of Jesus? Yet, Jesus clearly states that this is the gift that he is leaving us so that he can be even more present to us after he returned to heaven than he was while walking with us on the earth. We can have even more intimate union with him than if we were sitting on a grassy hillside listening to him preach, or sitting at a meal with him. Such is his love for us that he wants a union with us by being ingested into our bodies and thus becoming part of our very being as does the food we eat.  What a gift! Some may find it hard to swallow (yikes...pardon the pun!), but this is what Jesus is explaining as clearly as possible in this short passage.  May our prayer and reflection on his words today give us a greater understanding and appreciation of this gift and motivate us to receive it as often as we can...even daily!

Bro. Rene

Thank you, Jesus, for the this gift which allows us such intimate union with you.  May I take advantage of it as often as I can.

Never Hunger

 

 John 6:35–40 

 The Bread of Life

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. ³⁶ But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁰ For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Most of us eat three meals a day, and if we miss one or two, we feel hungery. But Jesus promises that whoever comes to him will never go hungry, or whoever believes in him will never be thirsty. Having been deprived of the Eucharist for most of these weeks I have been in Rehab, I can vouch for these words of Jesus. Despite the good care, nutritious meals and helpful therapy, there is definitely something vital to my day that I am missing. I watch the Mass from Ste.Marie's in Manchester, NH and am fed by the Word of God, but when it comes time for Holy Communion, I have to receive it "spiritually."  This will do for another few days, but soon I'll be home and able to return to daily Mass.  What a joy that will be!  We come to appreciate things when we are deprived of them. 

Bro. Rene

Dear God, thank you for the Bread of Life. Increase my longing for it and feed me soon. Give to all your believers a greater desire and appreciation for this holy and necessary nourishment. Amen.

Our Mission

 

Mark 16:15-20

 Go Into All The World

¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

¹⁹ After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. ²⁰ Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

As we celebrate the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist and read this Gospel passage, we see that even though he physically never traveled the whole world, his Gospel has persisted though the centuries carrying the Good news of Salvation to generations and peoples he never knew existed. Our knowledge of Jesus and his teaching come to us in succinct, direct and challenging words, thanks to Mark. May our reflection on this passage enlighten and strengthen us on how we can this day and by our lives, words and interactions with others "preach the gospel".

Bro. Rene

Loving God, thank you for St. Mark and his "no frills" Gospel. Fire up in me not only the desire to spread the Good News of Jesus, but actually do it by my words and dealings with others. Amen.

Believe

 

 John 6:22-29

²² The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. ²³ Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. ²⁴ Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

Jesus the Bread of Life

²⁵ When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Everyday we face challenges to our endurance and tests of our Faith. This is so that we move from a simple wonder or belief based on what we have experienced or on what we see, as did the folks who witnessed the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. But Jesus is constantly calling us to a relationship with him that is not based on the tangible, but rather on a deeper Faith that says, "I don't fully understand, but I accept this and believe in it, in You, simply because you are God and I am not." 

Bro. Rene

Lord, I do believe.  Help my unbelief!

Trusting In God's Plan

 

Luke 24:13-35

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him.

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

There are many times when we find ourselves walking that road to Emmaus, confused, despondent,  ready to give up. But as with these two disciples, Jesus will come,walk with us and unfold his plan and his on-going presence with us. It's hard to believe, to accept that he cares so much for us and is still with when we are feeling so abandoned, but this is the truth, and eventually he will make it clear to us in his good time. We  continually need to grow in our trust in God's plan for us. In the end we find out that it is better than any we could have devised ourselves

Bro. Rene

Dear God, thank you  for reminding us that you are walking with us, even when we don't realize it. Free us from the discouragement we fall into so easily; build up our trust in you that we may walk with joy and confidence and help others who might be on this same road. 

 

Do Not Be Afraid

 John 6:16-21

Jesus Walks on the Water

¹⁶ When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, ¹⁷ where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. ¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. ¹⁹ When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. ²⁰ But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” ²¹ Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

As often as we read this short  passage, its powerful message always seems to apply to our current challenge. I'm still writing from Whittier Rehab where I'm still trying to weather the storm of a persistent infection. I am consoled by the excellent care I am receiving and am focusing on the presence of Jesus who assures me that he is here calming my impatience and helping me to ride these unsettling waves. One day, the infection will be gone and I'll be sailing calm seas again. The important thing is to keep my eyes and ears on Jesus, and remain calm in him while these turbulent waters rage.  It is a lesson for all of us.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, when storms arise in my life, help me to remain calm in the knowledge that you are with me and there is nothing to fear or be discouraged about.

He Knows Our Needs

 

 John 6: 1-15

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), ² and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. ³ Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. ⁴ The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

⁷ Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

⁸ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ⁹ “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

¹⁴ After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” ¹⁵ Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

As much as he wanted to teach, Jesus was not unaware of the hunger his listeners were experiencing, and took care of the situation in his own way, which turned out to be quite spectacular, as well as quite simple:  take what was there, bless it and share it.  What a lesson for us who might be in a desert place in our spiritual lives and hungering for the nourishment we need to continue following him. As humans, we don't have all the answers and often need to be desperately hungry and ready to receive just what we need from Jesus who knows what is best for us better than we do.May we ask Jesus to feed and sustain us in his way and trust that he who fed the multitudes with what was there all the time, will feed and sustain us.

Bro. Rene

 
Lord, you fill the starving with good things, but send the rich away empty. May we hunger for you more than for life itself, and may we always share the blessings we have received with those who hunger still. Amen.

 Rev. Thomas Jones, C.S.C.

Believing In The Son

 

John 3: 31-36

 God Gives The Spirit Without Limit

³¹ The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. ³² He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. ³³ Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. ³⁴ For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. ³⁶ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

Our daily Gospel continues to prepare the way for Pentecost by calling us to appreciate all we have received from Jesus and to believe with confidence and assurance what he has taught. However, our busyness and daily tasks can be hindrances  to continuing the sincere efforts we made during Lent. What did we do then that we can continue deepening our relationship with Jesus and giving the Spirit permission and leeway to use us as his instruments?  How can we put our Faith into Action?

 Bro Rene
Heavenly Father, you love your Son Jesus and give everything and everyone over to him. May you make of us an everlasting gift to you, that we may always be grateful and sing your praises with joy-filled hearts. Amen.

 Rev. Thomas Jones, C.S.C.

 

No Greater Love

 

 John 3: 16-21

 Living By The Truth

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ¹⁹ This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

 John 3: 16 is often tauted on posters at televised sports events with good intent, but most people do not know the actual verse: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." How great God's love is for us that he would send Jesus who emptied himself totally for us to show that love and assure us that in all circumstances it is with us. Truly there is no greater love than this. God set the pattern of love for us; our role is now to live it, to put the needs and lives of others before ours and to lay down our lives for them. The Truth is that  in our own "dying" we give life to others and rise to eternal life.  A pretty good  "deal". 

Bro. Rene

Lord Jesus, we have done many things that we are ashamed of, things that we would prefer be kept hidden. Yet we also need to remember that no sin is greater than your love for us. So please grant us the courage to stop hiding and come out into the light of your forgiveness and mercy. Amen.

Rev. Herbert Yost, C.S.C.

Sincere Searching

John 3: 7b-15

 Born Again

⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

⁹ “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

¹⁰ “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? ¹¹ Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. ¹² I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. ¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.^"

^{Nicodemus was searching for answers and was not afraid to probe, even turning his discussion with Jesus into a verbal wrestling match. How else could he (or we) understand unless we seek and ask? "Born again!" Should this be  taken literally? The Son of Man lifted up (crucified). Really?  We can see why Nicodemus had to keep asking for clarification. Thank God he did, for it helped us come to a greater understanding and appreciation of our own relationship with God, for we too as baptized believers have been born again as sons and daughters of God.}

^{Bro. Rene}

^{Dear God, as we reflect on the Resurrection and our own positions as your special children, help us to come to a greater understanding of our relationship with you and with our fellow brothers and sisters.. Amen}  

 

Born Again

 

 John 3: 1-8

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

"Born again Christian", we've heard this phrase more than once, referring to people who have understood who God is and what their relationship with him as a disciple, a believer, can be.  It usually means a change in lifestyle and a deeper commitment to growth in this relationship. The questions Nicodemus asked might be our own and as we reflect on the Resurrection of Jesus we can move to a deeper appreciation of our invitation, our call to discipleship.  Indeed, we accept and live as people "born again" into a way  of life that puts us at the disposal of God to help us live the teachings of Jesus. As such, the "new me", the born again me can help make Jesus present to our own families and communities. As we move toward Pentecost, let us ask for the grace to be willing to be reborn in Jesus.

Bro. Rene

 
O God, like Nicodemus, we sometimes get confused about what it is you are trying to tell us. We thank you for your patience as you move us into a deeper understanding of your will in our life. Help us to be patient this day with others. Amen.

Rev. Thomas Jones, C.S.C.

My Lord and my God

 

 John 20: 19-31

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus Appears to Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, we see the mercy of Jesus at work in the unbelieving Thomas, whose  direct profession of Faith, so opposite from his expression of disbelief, becomes a model for us. Where would we be without the mercy of Jesus, without his love and constant attempts to assure us of it?   And without our seeing or touching Jesus, when we do say, "I believe, my Lord and my God" we are especially blessed. May this be our prayer today and may we be witnesses to the living presence of Jesus and his loving mercy in our midst.

Bro. Rene


Jesus, you are merciful, compassionate, and understand our human weakness. You know our fears—the things that hold us back from trusting you and from becoming fully ourselves—but you won’t let us use those things as an excuse. There is always a challenge to grow, and with the challenge comes the grace to meet it. Thank you for caring so much about us. Amen.

Rev. Herbert Yost, C.S.C.

Seeing Is Not Always Believing

 

Mark 16: 9-15

 Our Mission

⁹ When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. ¹⁰ She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. ¹¹ When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

¹² Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. ¹³ These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

¹⁴ Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

People do not usually rise from the dead, so the refusal to believe that Jesus did is somewhat understandable, but after witnessing the miracles that Jesus worked, including the raising of the widow of Naim's son and Lazarus, we'd think that the apostles could accept the risen Jesus with any doubt. They did, eventually, but it was a slow process. We don't have to look too far to find disbelieving companions, with ourselves as prime examples. How fragile and vulnerable is our faith, especially in these troubled times; how we doubt, even though God has reassured us time and time again. Let us daily ask for a stalwart faith that enables us to believe when we see and when we don't.

Bro. Rene

God of all wisdom and grace, you fill us with unwavering zeal to proclaim the truth of our faith wherever your Spirit leads us. Give us courage and determination to live out our faith even amid this harsh and challenging world. May our lives reflect your radiance as you lead us into your promise of everlasting life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Rev. Brad Metz, C.S.C.

For Us First

 

(Note: PT was early this morning, followed by breakfast, hence this slice appears later than usual. Bear with me; on the 20th I will return home and be able to get back to our old schedule.)

 John 21: 1-14

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.It happened this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹ When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

This touching post-resurrection story shows us again how careful Jesus is to assure his disciples, us included, that he is with us, cares for us and fulfills  all our needs, even to providing breakfast for us! He truly is a "man for others" (us) and is aware of all our needs. When we are feeling sorry for ourselves, or that no one cares, let us come to the lake shore and let Jesus feed us. He puts us first!

Bro. Rene

Father in heaven, the Gospels remind us that Jesus’ first followers struggled to know the implications of the new life promised them by his rising from the dead. These days, as we strive to live in the joy of the resurrection of Christ your Son, with “Alleluia” on our lips and echoing within our hearts, help us to recognize him everywhere he manifests himself: in the work we do, the company we keep, and the meals we share. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Rev. Paul Kollman, C.S.C.

Give More

 

 Luke 14: 35-48

Watchfulness

³⁵ “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. ³⁸ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. ³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

⁴¹ Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

⁴² The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

⁴⁷ “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸ But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

(Note: this is my third attempt to cut this slice of Daily Bread today!) 

A week ago were were just beginning the Triduum with all its solemnity, tragedy and celebration. Now as we continue to wade through our Easter candy, Jesus reminds us of the "other side" of Resurrection.  If we are to be his followers, our mission is the "work" of evangelization in big or small ways, bearing witness to Jesus and his love for us by bearing our sufferings, helping others bear theirs, and especially by extending his love to others by our actions and sincere concern. When we are asked to give more, how can we refuse having seen how much he has given to us?

Bro, Rene

In your appearances after the resurrection, Lord Jesus, you greeted your disciples with peace and showed them that your body, once dead in the tomb, was alive again. They became witnesses of your death and resurrection and preached your name to the ends of the earth, beginning from Jerusalem. Many centuries later, help us to know your life deep within us that we, too, might witness to you by all we do and say, and carry your good news to all we meet. You live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

 Rev. Paul Kollman, C.S.C.

 

On The Road to Emmaus

 

 Luke 24: 13-35

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him.

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Life's path takes us to familiar and unfamiliar places, as we walk, often unsure of what's going on around us or where we are going.  We can imagine how these two disciples felt after the dramatic weekend they had experienced, peppered by rumors that Jesus was alive, risen from the dead. Death they understood, but resurrection?  Surely not in their experience, so Jesus kindly unravels the mystery and makes it clear in the "breaking of the bread" that he is alive and with them. 

As we continue to reflect on the Resurrection and walk our own road to Emmaus,may we not lose sight that Jesus is with us and will never abandon us.

Almighty God, your Son’s rising from the dead astounded his followers, and turned their sadness into joy, their hopelessness into buoyant courage. Like the disciples who encountered him on the road to Emmaus, may we recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread, know him as the fulfillment of our deepest longings, and proclaim him alive to all we meet. We ask this through Christ our risen Lord. Amen.

 Rev. Paul Kollman, C.S.C.

Our Task

 

John 20: 11-18

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

This interaction between Mary Magdalene and Jesus hits home with us who may be overwhelmed with challenges, sadness, or discouragement.  We often stand in Mary's shoes, searching, grieving, or mourning the loss of someone, or the loss of the ease with which we used to do things, or the loss of our relationship with Jesus. But as in this passage, Jesus reminds us that he is there for us and even more, has a job, a mission for us: to go tell others that he is alive and with us. May we hear his command, take it to heart, and carry it out, no matter how inadequate or incapable we feel.   

Bro. Rene

Lord Jesus, by appearing to her as risen and uttering her name, you transformed Mary Magdalene’s grief and sent her to proclaim the news that you were alive. Help us to hear you tenderly speak our names, so that we may know your living presence, and also know ourselves made new by the resurrection. You live and reign with the Father and Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Rev. Paul Kollman, C.S.C.

Reassurance

Matthew 28:  8-15

 Fear Not

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

¹¹ While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, ¹³ telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Even the close friends and followers of Jesus had to be reassured that he was truly alive, so unique was this phenomenon of his return from the dead. They were sure when they place him in the tomb, encased in the traditional spices, that he was definitely dead, so they had to be reassured that indeed he was now alive again. Jesus assured them and asked them to spread the word.

In our day with so much secularist anti-faith feeding an ever unhappy world population, we need to hear the simple truth, "He is Risen", make sure it is the foundation of our faith, and share it with others by our words and deeds. Let us not be like the chief priests and guards, but live and spread the truth that HE IS RISEN!  

Bro. Rene

 
Father, thank you for the Easter joy with which you have blessed us. Drive this joy ever-deeper in our hearts, that our fears may dissolve and that we may find strength to give witness to our encounters with the risen Christ. Amen. 

Rev. Chase Pepper, C.S.C.

Where Is He?

Note:  Am writing from my rehab bed...not sure how consistent I will be, but it's good to be back. Alleluia!

John 20: 1-9

The Empty Tomb

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Can we fully appreciate the consternation and confusion over the empty tomb?  Not your average Sunday morning discovery!  We take Easter so much for granted, but we might take time to visit the tomb with Peter and John and somewhat experience the surprise of seeing the stone rolled back and the linen cloths lying about inside. As we prayed and fasted during Lent, my we dwell on the fulfillment of the resurrection, signified by the Empty Tomb...He is alive and with us, calling us to be with him now and for eternity.  Truly a day, a lifetime to rejoice!

Bro. Rene

 
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

  Easter Mass Preface